Annual Ladies Board Rummage Sale Is a Genuine Treasure

Charitable event to support Inova Loudoun Hospital celebrates 80 years

The Ladies Board of Inova Loudoun Hospital is pleased to report the 80th Annual Ladies Board Rummage Sale (held the weekend of October 20-21, 2018) grossed approximately $288,000. The top selling departments were The Look and Furniture. An estimated 6,000 shoppers attended the Saturday-Sunday event held at Morven Park Equestrian Center. Proceeds benefit Inova Loudoun Hospital and the Ladies Board Nursing Scholarship Fund.

Over 500 volunteers helped to unload, stage and sell 11 tractor-trailer loads of donated goods. The collection is nearly year-round, and the organizers will begin accepting donations in early 2019 for next year’s sale.

The Ladies Board raises several hundred thousand dollars each year to support special needs equipment at Inova Loudoun Hospital and has pledged $1 million for the Cornwall Cares project. The Ladies Board awards more than $100,000 annually in nursing scholarships.

For eight decades, this event has been lauded as a treasure trove of great bargains and unique trinkets. However, those in the know say it’s the women on the Ladies Board who are the rare finds. “These women are a force of nature,” says Suzanne Quinn, Executive Director, Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation. “We couldn’t ask for better ambassadors to champion the hospital and patients we are privileged to serve.”

The Rummage Sale is one of the most hotly anticipated events in the mid-Atlantic region. “Families come every year for clothing, home goods, furnishings — things many community members would not be able to otherwise afford,” says Deborah Addo, CEO, Inova Loudoun Hospital.

It’s also one of the most worthwhile happenings, with all the profits going to ILH and The Ladies Board Nursing Scholarship Fund. To date, the Ladies Board has awarded nearly 1,200 scholarships totaling $1,770,000. In 2016, the Rummage Sale was deemed Visit Loudoun’s Annual Tourism Event of the Year.  It has also been named Best Annual Charity Event in Northern Virginia in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by Virginia Living magazine.

A Rich History

Not surprisingly, the event has grown. Originally held in Leesburg’s petite St. James Episcopal Church, today the Rummage Sale is organized by more than 500 volunteers and held at the more than 55,000-square-foot Morven Park Equestrian Center. An estimated 7,000 annual shoppers have room to browse.

Some Things Never Change (Thankfully!)

And throughout the years and the changes, the Ladies Board’s commitment to ILH has never wavered. “It’s awe-inspiring,” says Alexia Orr, past President of the Ladies Board of ILH. “We have women who have worked on the Rummage Sale for 30 or 40 years, and this year we’ll recognize two 50-year veterans with our Golden Apron award.”

Every day, Addo witnesses the Ladies Board’s commitment. “From the very first board to today, these women have always been by our side. They helped to create the very bedrock of our hospital’s mission.”

Shop ’Til You Drop

The Annual Ladies Board Rummage Sale takes place each fall at Morven Park Equestrian Center, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, along Rt. 15, north of Leesburg.